Tip-ins

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, April 10, 2005

If you can't teach an old dog new tricks, at least you can give him new life.

The Spurs, needing a scorer with Tim Duncan sidelined by injury, signed Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson this week for the remainder of the season. Robinson, who hadn't played in more than a year because of rickety elbows and knees, apparently still has his shooting touch.

"He does something that's useful and that's put the ball in the hole," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News.

Robinson made his 3-of-4 jump shots in the Spurs' 91-82 win over the Clippers on Wednesday. His lone miss came on a botched alley-oop layup attempt from Beno Udrih, whom Popovich jokingly chided for throwing the lob pass.

"I could see both hamstrings and his groin going on that one," Popovich said of the 32-year-old Robinson. "Then we'd be signing (a sports writer) tomorrow. That wasn't real smart."

The former All-Star, who went 3-for-7 (6 points) in a blowout loss to Dallas the next day, owns a career average of 20.8 points per game. He began the year with Philadelphia, lost his job in training camp to rookie Andre Iguodala, and spent the season on the injured list before the 76ers shipped him to the Hornets, who eventually released him..

Miller time

It was last call for Reggie Miller at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, and Knicks fans, who have hounded the retiring Indiana star for nearly decade, finally showed him some love.

The crowd chanted "Reg-gie! Reg-gie! Reg-gie" as the game clock wound down during the Pacers' win over New York.

"There were a few 'sucks' in there, too," a smiling Miller told reporters after scoring just 13 points on 3-of-15 shooting in the Pacers' 97-79 victory. "But I'm very appreciative."

Miller has provided some of the Garden's memorable playoff moments, but it took him a while to become accustomed to the place. He lost his first seven regular-season games there, and 22 of his first 25. Before he headed to the locker room, he walked across the court to film director Spike Lee, his nemesis in the stands, and gave him a hug.

"I think this is the last time I'll ever be in the Garden, for anything," Miller said. "It's sweet for me, because you want to leave as a winner. I didn't come in as a winner here, but I'll leave as a winner.".

Sharpshooter

With his 3-pointer against the Bulls on Tuesday, Damon Jones shot his way into Miami's record book. The guard hit his 204th 3-pointer of the season, topping a list of notable marksmen -- including former Warrior Tim Hardaway, Glen Rice, Eddie Jones, Voshon Lenard and Dan Majerle -- for most in a single season.

"I feel the same way as when Voshon was here," Heat coach Stan Van Gundy told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "You're surprised when he misses. You're sitting there on the bench and if he has his feet set, you just think it's going in all the time."

Jones is shooting 47.3 percent from long distance. Hardaway set the previous Heat record of 203 during the 1996-97 season, so after Jones' historic basket in the first quarter, he pointed toward Hardaway's season- ticket seat.

For one of the few times this year, he whiffed. Hardaway was not in his seat at the time.